Abstract
The chapter provides an analysis of ethnic, cultural, and religious confrontations in modern geopolitical hybrid conflicts. The methodological basis of the present research is the concept of hybrid geopolitical 3D conflicts. The data of sociological surveys carried out by Ukrainian and Russian research centres as well as the Center for Countering Information Aggression AM&РM are used. The main subject of study is the specifics of interethnic, intercultural, and interreligious conflicts that are part of the hybrid Russian-Ukrainian War (2014-2021). The authors of the chapter conclude that modern Russian-Ukrainian interethnic, intercultural, and interreligious conflicts can be considered as an example of hybrid geopolitical 3D conflicts: it started like military-political aggression and continued at other levels and areas. The conflicts of the sort demonstrate a hybrid nature and are a new phenomenon in international and domestic geopolitics.
TopMaterials And Methods
The research is based on the case study method: the hybrid geopolitical conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine during 2014-2021 as evidence of a new type of hybrid warfare is investigated in various dimensions in the chapter. Content analysis and comparative analysis were used to conclude the collected data and rich theoretical materials. The research hypothesis is that in modern geopolitics new forms of conflict are being formed. Their peculiarity is that starting from political and military actions they are developing in other areas like economics, culture, religion etc. at different levels: from local territories up to the national level.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Inter-Ethnic Hybrid Conflict: A confrontation between civilian nations, which is initiated to cover up military-political aggression.
Hybrid Geopolitical War/Hybrid Warfare: An open confrontation between geopolitical subjects using the integrated tools of direct and indirect influence.
Hybrid Geopolitical Conflict: Conceptual, integrated confrontation between geopolitical subjects, which unfolds in all planes where the interests of the warring parties intersect.
Intercultural Hybrid Conflict: Suppression of the historical and cultural subjectivity of the victim of aggression.
Interreligious Hybrid Conflict: Ideological confrontation, the purpose of which is to justify or cover up foreign aggression.
Ethnopolitics: Purposeful activities of the state, political parties, and public organizations in polyethnic countries to regulate relations between ethnic groups.
Geopolitics: International policy, which is based on the principles of the geographical features of the location and development of the countries of the world.
Hybrid Geopolitical Aggression: Integrated actions of a destructive nature, in which the attacker sends an object against aggression without encountering significant resistance or consciousness.